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COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- Germany-based ZF Group says it will add 300 jobs to a transmission plant in Laurens County.

The company said Wednesday it is adding $80 million to the $350 million project it announced in July 2010 to meet demand. The company had initially announced it would create 900 jobs beginning in 2012.

South Carolina competed with more than a dozen states for the operation that will make rear-wheel drive 8-speed automatic transmission for Chrysler Group LLC.

ZF also operates a plant in Duncan and has U.S. operations in eight other states.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)